Sunday, October 14, 2012

Yesterday we made our usual weekend run to Costco to load up on Diet Coke and other life sustaining nutrients.

Starting in October, Costco puts up large displays of Christmas trees and other holiday home decorations, some of which can be quite elaborate, to show people how the items look out of the box.

As we walked around we noticed 2-3 families, each with their kids nicely dressed up in Christmas-type outfits. They were posing the youngsters in front of the displays and taking pictures for family Christmas cards.

Steeny. I did laugh, out loud, because that is the tackiest thing I've heard of in a while. Seriously what would you think if you actually saw that happening... And what do they put on the card, Seasons Greetings from Costco, Love the Smiths ?

Yes, it is tacky. Yes, it is WAY too early for Chrismukkah, Festivius or whatever. My brother and family are coming for Thanksgiving and Mom is sweating the details. Do you think she has thought of Festivus? Can't wait for Airing of the Grievances.

But ...

Do you know what good photos from a studio cost? Or even the photo salon at your local convenience store? Try major portions of the anatomy. I was a photographer, so I know. This Costco has nice trees, well-decorated, to use as a backdrop. In September, no less.

Snap the kids (in their nice outfits) 5-6 feet from tree, use a small f-stop (aperture) to blow out the background slightly, and then have the result printed up right at Costco's photo center. I bet the photo center already has card stock on hand!

Result: Nice cards, minimum price. Only drawback? Can't have the family pets in the photo. As a former photog, trying to get the kids, Fido and Fluffy looking at you was a piece of cake. The parents onth e other hand ...

Some Foreign Service families were stateside for just a couple of weeks and needed to use the Costco Christmas displays because that was their one chance to get some family Christmas photos taken before they went back overseas! It's brilliant!

Welcome to my whining!

This blog is entirely for entertainment purposes. All posts about patients may be fictional, or be my experience, or were submitted by a reader, or any combination of the above. Factual statements may or may not be accurate.

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